Ace, what do you think of the Gen-X CL pump so far? I'm looking for one for a 200 FOWLR. Likes, dislikes?
Ace25's 75G Build Thread
- Thread starter Ace25
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So far so good.. no problems. I have heard from others though that long term use isn't that great.. talking 2+ years running 24/7. It will gradually get louder over time.. which I guess could be said for any pump.. my "used" Iwaki pump that I thought was a steal at $80 for a $280 pump turned out to be louder than a shop vac in my house.. that was the reason I went with the Gen-X.. I needed a pump ASAP because I was right in the middle of my build when I discovered the Iwaki problem.. I had heard the Gen-X pumps running at my LFS and liked how quiet they were and the cost of the pump was also major deciding factor. I think it was only around $160 for it.
Good to know. The pump is going to be behind the fish wall so noise isn't as big an issue, but efficiency and reliability are.
Ok, Day 19 now of tank being "re-setup". Couple coral closeup pics..
Couple closeup coral pics..
ORA Red Planet
ORA Nathan's Millipora
Orange Tipped Acropora
Crayola Acropora
ORA Stylophora
ORA Oregon Tortuosa
Steve Tyree Neon Green Toadstool Leather + Tubbs Blue Zoas
Couple closeup coral pics..
ORA Red Planet
ORA Nathan's Millipora
Orange Tipped Acropora
Crayola Acropora
ORA Stylophora
ORA Oregon Tortuosa
Steve Tyree Neon Green Toadstool Leather + Tubbs Blue Zoas
Today was "test day".. 
Results:
pH - 8.1
ORP - 350
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Phosphate - 0
Silicates - 0
Alk - 11 DKH
CA - 380
Mg - 1260
Iodine - .06 mg/l
Strontium - 16 mg/l
I am working on fixing the low CA and Mg levels already.
And leave you with a couple coral pics..
Results:
pH - 8.1
ORP - 350
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Phosphate - 0
Silicates - 0
Alk - 11 DKH
CA - 380
Mg - 1260
Iodine - .06 mg/l
Strontium - 16 mg/l
I am working on fixing the low CA and Mg levels already.
And leave you with a couple coral pics..
Nope, those are just my salifert test kits. I have digital probes for pH and ORP, and API test kits for Phosphates, Ammonia, and Nitrites that I didn't have the boxes for so they were left out of the picture.
Do they need boxes to be photographed. LOL I'm looking for good products before I spend money on crap products.
I'm looking for good products before I spend money on crap products.
Well, to look their best they need the boxes, or else it is just a piece of paper, a vial, and 2 small white bottles.
Obviously I like Salifert brand tests but the API Calcium test is a little easier to do and seems to be just as accurate. The API Alk test kit was way off though, it read 8DKH when in reality it was 11DKH, the upper limits for alk. Tell you one thing though, don't waste your $ on test "strips". I was using a nitrite/nitrate strip test and it would always show around 20 nitrates for me. Several tests with the salifert nitrate tests showed ZERO. Big difference when your running a SPS coral tank.. 20 is danger levels, 0-5 are acceptable. Same goes for pH test strips.. strips would tell me pH was 8.4 when in reality is was 8.0-8.1, again, when dealing with SPS tanks you really want to make sure the test readings you get are accurate.
All these test tell me exactly what I need to do though..
1. stop topping off with Kalk because Alk is already maxed, just use RO/DI for a while
2. Dose Mg and CA at maximum daily allowances to get those back within range while letting Alk drop back down a little on its own.
3. Keep doing my weekly water changes because all other parameters are spot on. Low pH will be fixed as Alk drops and buffering capabilities start to work more.
Obviously I like Salifert brand tests but the API Calcium test is a little easier to do and seems to be just as accurate. The API Alk test kit was way off though, it read 8DKH when in reality it was 11DKH, the upper limits for alk. Tell you one thing though, don't waste your $ on test "strips". I was using a nitrite/nitrate strip test and it would always show around 20 nitrates for me. Several tests with the salifert nitrate tests showed ZERO. Big difference when your running a SPS coral tank.. 20 is danger levels, 0-5 are acceptable. Same goes for pH test strips.. strips would tell me pH was 8.4 when in reality is was 8.0-8.1, again, when dealing with SPS tanks you really want to make sure the test readings you get are accurate.
All these test tell me exactly what I need to do though..
1. stop topping off with Kalk because Alk is already maxed, just use RO/DI for a while
2. Dose Mg and CA at maximum daily allowances to get those back within range while letting Alk drop back down a little on its own.
3. Keep doing my weekly water changes because all other parameters are spot on. Low pH will be fixed as Alk drops and buffering capabilities start to work more.
